Letters to the editor Nov. 11

Protesters deserve leniency

I am writing after reading the Nov. 6 article, “Amended charges filed against Border Patrol protesters.”

As a first-generation immigrant, I witnessed my parents spend a decade and their life’s savings navigating a strict immigration system to come to the U.S. legally. I understand the rule of law, but I also understand that our current system is broken. It often fails those fleeing violence and instability, while relying on their labor in jobs many Americans won’t do.

The protest was not merely an attempt to “block” officers. It was a desperate, symbolic act of defiance against a system perceived as unjust. The real tragedy is the need for such acts.

While the legal proceedings will address the act of blocking vehicles, I plead with our community to look beyond the charge to the profound human consequences at stake. As a neighbor who shops in the same stores and values the character of Flathead Valley, I fear a criminal record, however minor the charge may seem, can permanently alter a life.

I am respectfully asking Judge Overland for leniency.

— Mee Chung Kim, Columbia Falls

Empower veterans to lead

Each November, we pause to thank those who served. But gratitude alone is not enough. The deeper question we should ask each Veterans Day is what our communities gain when veterans have a seat at the table — when they bring their experience and leadership to civic life.

Veterans carry a rare blend of competence and care forged under extraordinary circumstances. Competence comes from years of teamwork, adaptability and tenacity under pressure. Care comes from belonging to something larger than oneself — where success depends on the strength of the group, not individual comfort. Those habits of heart and mind don’t fade when the uniform comes off; they become civic assets.

When veterans engage in government, business or community service, they strengthen the institutions that depend on trust, follow-through and teamwork. They know how to manage crises, de-escalate conflict and translate shared values into practical action. They don’t just deserve a seat at the table — our communities require their presence to thrive.

After leaving the Army, I found my way into public health, then into law and mediation. The skills that have mattered most weren’t tactical or technical — they were relational: listening under stress, bridging divides and keeping the mission steady when tempers flare. Those instincts now help guide housing disputes toward resolution, civic projects toward consensus and communities toward connection.

This Veterans Day, let’s honor service not only with speeches and parades, but with invitations — onto boards, into classrooms and across coalitions. Our nation has invested deeply in shaping veterans into leaders who combine resolve with empathy and courage with compassion. The call to serve never truly ends; it simply changes form. By empowering veterans to lead again, we strengthen the civic fabric that binds us all.

— David Ley, Missoula